Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-09

In striking from the proposed cOmpr omise
mee 'ure Il repeal of the tobacco tax, the tax
| on irut brandics, alcohol used in the arts
weiss beer AMI the alternative proposition 20
| reduce the tax on all distilled spirits from SOC.
70 Que. per gallon, you eliminate from the bll
All proposition TO reduce internal revenue
taxes, except the retail license provision. and
THIS you do not in terms agree to.
In lieu of these provisions
IN your bill you propose to repeal al statutes
Imposing restrlctions upon the sale of leaf
Tobacco by farmers and to modify the laws
relating to storekeepere and gaugers at
small dlstilleries, and the destruction OF stills.
also to modify the administrative features of
me law relating to the issue of warrants. etc.
While to all these proposed notifications OF
the present law we readily assent, we do
not see IN them alone how the revenue Is to
he reduced
Our object in the matter OF internal taxes
IS two-toid; first, to reduce the revenue, and,
second, to relieve the people of a veXatious
ana inqulsltorlal method Of taxation. and to
DO TINS without Offering temptations to fraud
or To evasiOns of the law. Furthermore, in
proposing the abolition or reduction Of inter-
nal revenue taxes. we believe we are acting
in harmony with the principles and declara-
tion5 of the Democratic national plat
form The internal revenue tax
In that platform is declared to be
war tax, and repeal of the crushing war
taxes is demanded. 1t has, moreover, been the
pohcy or our government after each war to
abandon this form of taxation first. as
eVlnced under the administrations OF Jeffer
son and jackson, and tax that requires an
armed force to execute it can never be pop
ular IN free country. \ ou demand that if the
repeal of the tobacco tax, or other internal
taxes IN the whole or in part is insisted upon
by us, then you and those acting with
you VIII insist that in the same
Dill an equal amount of reduction in the rev.
enue derived from customs shall be made. If
IL presented otherwise deOatable ground for a
compromise, it seems to us to forestall such
action by your further demand that the re-
ductlOn In the tarlh shall be made upon such
articles only as those with whom you are act
lug shall indicate. This is equivalent to say
lng, at the outset, that those holding different
views from your own, and the views of those
acting with you shall be precuded from hav-
ing any voice in determining what things du-
ties shall be reduced on. But in the first place
internal taxes and customs have never stood
on equal ground in our system of taxation.
Tarih taxes have been always our chief re-
lance for revenue. Internal taxes have been
exceptional taxes. In the next place we hold
IL next TO lmpOsslb to 80 adjust tariff rates
as to secure a definite reduction of the reve-
nues, such as the repeal or reduction
| of an internal revenue tax will produce
When the direct tax is repealed we
know what the loss to the revenue will be-
and when dutiable articles are placed on the
free llst-but a reduction of rate of duty
may be followed by an increase of revenue,
and not Il decrease. Between the two eX-
tremes of free trade on one hand and a pro-
mbitOry tariff or no trade on the other. there
are three principles, and only three, one or the
olher OF which must govern when duties are
inteligently laid. These may be
represented by three lines First, a horizon
tai line representing an even rate laid upon
all imports for the purpose of revenue only:
next, an irregular line, representing maxi
mum revenue; and, third, line representing
| the difference IN the cost of production arls-
| ing out of different conditions under which
| production Is carried on in this and other
| countries. We are ready to Join in reducing
| the tariff on all articles that are above the
| line OF difference IN the cost of production.
| and on those things on winch the rate of duty
| is now above that line,. thus permitting mo-
nOpolies to be formed to arbitrarily raise prices
| to the consumer without beneflting labor
| we think 1t the Imperative duty Of Congress
to reduce the tarif SO as to prevent the posi-
! Dility of monopoly combination to put up
prices above pnsno.C the competing com point.
ton to submit the measure proposed by Us to
| a caucus OF our political friends, all parties
| to be bound by such action as it may take
| upon the subjects to which the bin relates, Is
one, 1t seems TO It's, that ought not to be asked,
| The question is not political question 1t is
! not "A party question, for the Republicans
| differ on 1t as do the Democrats. The
| differences between us are not political dll-
| ferences but differences on important econ
| omlc and industrial questions aud we sub
| nit that lit Is not usual in either party
nor right, to attempt to bind men by caucus
action on such questions and thereby not only
| to take from them their right and duty to
| act in accordance with their own convic-
| tons, but compel them to act contrary to
| their obligations rs faithful representa- ives
of the people who have sent them here
| These, too, are the very matters respecting
| which we are attempting 10 effect a compro-
| mise.
In lieu, therefore, of a caucus, we suggest
| that a committee composed OF members rep
| resenting the different phases of the question
| involved IN the TWO measures under discus
| sion, should be appointed to take up these
differences in a spirit of fairness. with a view
! of coming together on a measure all can sup
| port without either side being called upon to
| surrender convictions or to prove derelict in
To
| the suggestion of conference more because
| many OF the gentlemen acting with us in the
| matter OF Internal taxes do not agree on all
| matters pertaining to the tariff
In accordance with your fourth suggestion,
that in case no other arrangement is arrived
at upon reasonable notice h motion be made
| to 20 into committee of the whole on bill
97O2 introduced by Mr.. Randall at the last
| ses ion OF Congress, we have 10 say that due
| notice Will be given of the time when II il
! proposed 10 make such motion 30 that 1t VIII
! lie generally known. We cannot. however
close this communication without expires sin Z
| again the hope that an agreement on a meas
/ ure which onr political friends can generally
support is not yet impossible.
RANDALL IN A CORNER.
Mr.. Randall has been forced to accept
| one OF the tour propositions which Mr.
! Carlisle made to him. His free tobacco
| dodge having failed he found himself
! obliged to accept one OF the propositions
| or show them all 10 be unreasonable. He
could not do the latter, 30 he chose the
! proposition TO unite in going into commit
| te, Of the whole on motion to consider
revenue bills. OfcOurse nothing can come
of this at this late dag in the session. MIR.
Randall would not otherwise agree to
what be fought so bitterly when Mr.
Morrison proposed it early IN the session.
Itmay give the revenue refOrmers a chance
TO put the protectionists on record, touch
ing some particular taxes, but that Will
be all.
Government Clerks on the List.